Chapter 37: Hunt
 

"FUCK!" Agon shouted.
 
Napalunok ako sa galit na lumulukob sa mukha niya at namumula ang magkabila niyang tenga. His veins are popping on his neck as he clenched his fist tightly.
 
We were enjoying our time a while ago, but with just a flick of a finger, we are now anxious for what might happen next, or maybe I am?
 
"Secure the whole area. If anything happens, bomb this whole mansion. You know what to do," Agon commanded to Ardeen calmly.
 
Bomb this mansion?! This whole mansion? May nakatanim bang bomba sa buong mansyon na 'to?!
 
Agon's hands were wrapped tightly around my waist, not letting me go for a second. I can feel his emotion by securing me on his arm. It was wrapped like chains where I couldn't run but was protected by his side. A chain that I will gladly be tied together by him.
 
"Ariglado, boss!" ngumisi si Ardeen, sumaludo pa kay Agon.
 
"This place is really dangerous for her. There's a traitor in this mansion. You need to get her there," makahulugang sambit ni Raji.
 
"What? A traitor? Sino?!" gulat na tanong ko.
 
Tikom ang bibig niya sa tanong kong iyon kaya bumaling ako kay Agon. Hindi rin ako nakakuha ng sagot sa kan'ya at nagsiiwasan lang ng tingin sina Nick at Ardeen.
 
Anong tinatago nila?!
 
"Pack your things. We will leave tonight. This place is not safe anymore. Enemies will be swarming here."
 
Napasunod ako kay Agon at naiwan sina Nick, Ardeen, at Raji sa dining area. I lastly glanced at Raji, and he mouthed go for me.
 
"Where are we going? Why are we going? I thought this place was safe. Aalis agad tayo? Paano sila? Nick, Ardeen, and Raji? Levin too, and Jaki! And your men. Maiiwan sila rito?" sunod-sunod na tanong ko matapos na umakyat si Agon papasok sa kwarto niya.
 
Agon pressed a button on the wall, and a black briefcase emerged. He put it on the bed and unlocked it. My mouth hanged open when he handed me a gun.
 
"Put it on your thigh. You never know where and when they will be."
 
"What's happening? Can you please tell me?! I need to know!" inis na giit ko.
 
Agon sighed. "You are on the list, and we need you to be safe."
 
May sumipang kaba sa dibdib ko. On the list? Nangunot ang noo kong napatitig sa pag-iimpake ni Agon.
 
"What? Can you elaborate further? I can't catch the wind here, really."
 
Napatigil sandali si Agon. "You are on the list in the Black Box Hunting."
 
"Black Box Hunting? What?!" Nangunot ang noo ko dahil lalong wala akong maintindihan.
 
"It's a web that only in the underground world can access it."
 
"That means, lahat nakakakita ng pangalan ko?!"
 
"Of course, but not just your name but your background. What do you expect if you're on the list? Lahat ng may gusto sa pera, tutugisin ka hanggang makuha nila ang ulo mo. Money is power that will put you on your throne easily, remember that."
 
Money is the best weapon for everyone that can be a double-edged sword, it's either to your benefit or the latter.
 
"But who put my name in the Black Box?!"
 
"No one knows, it's anonymous, that's the rule in the Black Box." Inabot niya ang isang thigh strap sa 'kin. "Put it on," aniya at kinabig ang bewang ko papalapit sa kaniya. He pecked a quick kiss on my lips. "I really wanted to fuck you right now, but we can't, let's save it for the meantime."
 
Nanlaki ang mata ko at pinalo ang dibdib niya. This silly mafia boss! Seryoso ang pinag-uusapan pero heto s'ya!
 
"Kailangan natin agad makaalis dito," his tone was calm but worried at the same time.
 
"Paano sila? Si Levin?"
 
"They know what to do. Hindi natin pwedeng dalhin si Levin, he is now safe with Ardeen. We put Levin in a safe place that only the four of us know. Beside, Jaki is trained, he knows how to protect Levin, even though the enemy is armored with guns and bullets."
 
"A place? Saan?" kuryusong tanong ko, pero ng mapagtanto kong si Jaki ay hindi basta-basta lang alaga ay nanlaki na naman ang mata ko.
 
He put his forefinger on my lips, gave a quick kiss to my lips, and roamed his eyes in this room. "I can't say it here. We need to make sure, traitor is everywhere."
 
Kung alam niya kung sino, bakit pa niya pinapatagal? Bakit hindi niya agad patayin at paamin 'to?
 
Agon seems to know what I'm thinking and answered, "We're catching a bigger fish than the small one. We are waiting."
 
My forehead knotted. Posible bang nasa paligid ko lang ang traidor na sinasabi nila? Who might it be? Ang lakas naman ng loob para tumiwalag sa grupong 'to.
 
Knowing Agon, he's ruthless when it comes to security and rules. What he imposed should be followed, and if not, death will come next.
 
We packed what we needed in several minutes. We packed some ammunition and everything that can be used as a weapon. I roamed my eyes at the whole place while standing in the veranda.
 
This place that I thought was the most horrible place I ever knew when I set foot here, a cruel jail that I once thought was where my selfish aunt sold me and claimed all of my family's property.
 
I never thought that this once safe and trusted place—a shelter that provides a sense of protection, a place where I rebuild myself—screamed danger now.
 
I had once believed that this place was impenetrable because of the security that Agon provided and the loyalty that his men showed. He seemed to be reigning an empire, full of strategies in his sleeves.
 
This mansion has a lot of secrets, doors, and passages that I'm able to explore. Agon and his men knew about this, and that made the traitor dangerous. He/she knows the mansion too well and can easily leak information to the enemies.
 
I know Agon knew my silly rendezvouss but never had a time that I opened that topic. Wala naman sa 'kin 'yong kung alam niya ang pinaggagawa ko sa bahay na 'to.
 
When the clock struck 5, we immediately got our things. Agon drove his car as fast as he could, tila hinahabol ng kung sino.
 
My soul almost left my body, but his kiss took it back to where it was.
 
Papaluin ko na ulit sana siya ng biglang mag-ring ang cellphone ni Agon.
 
"What's the matter?" bungad agad niya sa telepono.
 
"They're here!" Nick said with a tone of. . .excitement.
 
What else can I expect from Nick? Napailing ako habang nakikinig.
 
"They know the mansion's weak point, but we got this. Come here, you fucking idiots, and I will smash your dick sideways!" sigaw niya sa kabilang linya at humalakhak.

"Will you shut up, Nick?!" dinig kong sita ni Raji sa kabilang linya.